The Second Madam stood there, truly conflicted. It had been nearly half a year since her daughter had left, and there was still no news. While she knew that marching and fighting were like this, her heart was nonetheless uneasy. Especially after the rumors that spread through the city recently about the Emperor sending the Fourth Prince to be cannon fodder…
Yet, now standing before Ji Zizhao, she didn't know how to begin.
The Fourth Prince was already gone. If she expressed her worry for her daughter now, wouldn't that only add to Zizhao's distress?
"Does Second Aunt want to ask about Second Sister's affairs?" Ji Zizhao saw through her Second Aunt's dilemma with a single glance.
Second Madam, Yu Fenglan, said with a helpless and apologetic tone, "Zizhao, I know I shouldn't have come, but I'm truly too worried about Zimo. You know that girl has always been uncontrollable, and now she's still in the army, delaying her return..."
Ji Zizhao smiled. "Second Aunt's worry for Second Sister is understandable. Speaking of which, it's my fault. I should have reported my safety to Second Aunt first."
Second Madam Yu Fenglan was stunned for a moment. "You mean, Zimo wrote to you?"
"You could say that."
Ji Zizhao had seen the original letter from Elder General Zhong at Xie Jinglan's place. Although they didn't report to their families during wartime, if Second Sister had truly encountered any misfortune in Tonglin, Elder General Zhong wouldn't have left it unmentioned.
Since he hadn't mentioned anything, it meant she was safe.
However, it wasn't convenient for her to explain the details to her Second Aunt at this moment.
Hearing this, Second Madam Yu Fenglan felt much more at ease. She then chatted with Ji Zizhao about other gossip for a while. She heard that the banquet prepared by the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family was exceptionally grand, and the entire imperial city was now aware of it.
Ji Zizhao frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Preparing a banquet would indeed cause some stir, but if it were truly as the Second Aunt described, then the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family was causing far too much of a commotion, especially during a time when the Tonglin campaign was not yet over…
Were the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family truly not afraid of angering the Emperor?
When things are abnormal, there is bound to be treachery. When people act abnormally, they are bound to have ulterior motives.
Who would believe it wasn't a banquet of poisoned wine?
After Ji Zizhao saw off her Second Aunt, she immediately sent Shuiling to gather information about the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family. No matter how big or small the matter, anything originating from the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family was to be reported to her.
Not long after Shuiling left, Xueying returned to report. Taohua's mother had been safely brought into the imperial city. However, it was inconvenient to bring her into the Ji family, so Xueying had taken the initiative to arrange for her to stay at an inn.
Ji Zizhao thought that living in an inn long-term wasn't a solution. She then called for Fubao. "Go into the city and buy a suitable courtyard. It doesn't need to be too large, but the location should be a little better. Also, see what else is needed for daily life. Don't worry about the money; try to buy everything meticulously."
Fubao accepted the order and quickly set about making arrangements. Fortunately, the imperial city was vast, and there were many houses for sale. In less than two days, a courtyard was chosen and everything was purchased.
Fearing that Taohua's mother would not be accustomed to staying at the inn, Ji Zizhao personally took Jianqiu to the inn to pick her up. She had expected that the mother of a trained assassin would be straightforward, generous, and capable. Little did she expect that upon meeting her, she would discover a perfectly ordinary woman, even somewhat introverted.
Ji Zizhao: "..."
So, Taohua's unruly and uninhibited nature was developed through later experiences?
While Ji Zizhao spoke with the woman, the woman didn't even dare to lift her head. It was only after Jianqiu comforted her for a while that she finally agreed to move into the courtyard.
Seeing this, Ji Zizhao did not wish to disturb them further. She left behind some silver notes and loose silver, and then had Fubao find two nimble governesses before leaving the courtyard with Jianqiu.
However, it was precisely during this tour of the streets that Ji Zizhao discovered that the people of the imperial city were indeed paying close attention to the banquet hosted by the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family. As she walked along, she could hear the discussions of the common folk everywhere, all of whom were talking about how many precious ingredients the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family had bought yesterday and how much fine wine they had purchased today.
Soon, Shuiling returned with her report. What she had gathered was largely similar to what Ji Zizhao had heard.
"Miss, could it be that the common people are too idle?" Shuiling pondered. In the past, people always liked to gossip about any significant event in someone's family.
"No one is so idle as to focus on one matter all day long," Ji Zizhao said with a cold smile. The common people enjoyed creating public opinion, but without a sensational topic, they would not be drawn to it for an extended period.
Upon listening closely to the commoners' discussions, it was not difficult to discover that their conversations revolved around how much money the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family was spending daily and how many items they were purchasing.
"These daily expenses are considered private matters of the household. If the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family hadn't intentionally leaked the news, how would the common people be able to speculate?"
"But why would the Eighth Prince's maternal family do such a thing?"
Ji Zizhao shook her head.
To gather attention is to become the focal point.
But why the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family wanted to become the focal point would likely only be revealed on the day of the banquet.
As the date of the banquet approached, the imperial city's common people's interest in this feast remained very high. Ji Zizhao was also very curious about the actions of the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family. Coincidentally, three days before the banquet, the Imperial Hospital made a temporary duty roster change, and it happened to be Ji Zizhao's turn to be on duty on the day of the banquet.
Although Ji Zizhao had no intention of shirking her duties, her service at the Imperial Hospital could not be taken lightly. She had intended to send someone to the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family once she returned to her residence, but unexpectedly, the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family sent people to each residence one by one, temporarily changing the banquet time.
And the rescheduled time just happened to be the day Ji Zizhao was off duty after her shift!
Almost instantly, all the residences that received the news exploded with discussion.
Even though the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family had not stated the reason for the postponement, everyone was not foolish. Seeing that the delayed banquet coincided with Ji Zizhao's day off, who could not discern the underlying meaning?
To put it plainly, the Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family had changed the date specifically for Ji Zizhao!
In this way, apart from Xu Meiqing, the Sixth Prince Consort, and Xing Jiqiu, the Seventh Prince Consort, which Prince Consort wasn't feeling resentful towards Ji Zizhao?
Especially Zuo Xiuhua, the Fifth Prince Consort, who was so angry upon hearing this news that she didn't even eat her meal!
They were all Prince Consorts, so why was the Fourth Prince Consort so special?
Even Jianqiu frowned and said, "The Eighth Prince Consort's maternal family's actions, while seemingly giving Miss face, are actually counterproductive."
To put it bluntly, it was inciting hatred.
Just then, Mo Hen, covered in dust, entered.
Jianqiu understood that Mo Hen had not been seen for some time because he had been sent out by his mistress to investigate matters. Seeing him enter, she quickly curtsied and withdrew, also dismissing the servants in the courtyard.
When there was no one left inside or outside, Mo Hen placed a drawing on the table.
Ji Zizhao lowered her gaze to look. Upon clearly seeing what was drawn, her heart involuntarily trembled.
This is…